Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-24

IN their opinion is tine best plan for such ex-
tension in regard to the angles OF streets and
the contour OF the ground. The bill in question is
the one introduced last April by Mr. Malone di-
recting extension of streets beyond the boundary
in conformity, SO far practicable to the exist
ing plan OF the city, within the following described
area, viz: Between Rock creek on The west, the
soldiers Home and Lincoln avenue on the east
Pfney branch, Spring road, Rock Creek church
road on the north, and Boundary street. from the
P-street bridge TO Lincoln avenue, on the south.
Ihe Dill also provides for laying out park on
ROCK creek, and authorizes a loan not exceeding
Two and half million dollars TO defray the
c0st OF the proposed extensions and Improvements.
The Commissioners answer says the bill,
as a whole, has been carefully drawn, and
contains numerous excellent and well-consdered
provisions, some OF which should be enacted inde-
pendently OF the disposition ultimately to be made
or the bill itself. AS, for example, that requiring
all future subdivisions OF land to conform with the
general plan adopted and the provisions for the
ROCK Greek park. The area in question contains
ABOUT Two and three-quarters square miles, lying
practically between North Capitol and Esd streets
extended, and includes within its limits consid-
Elements and subdivisions exterior to the Bonn-
dary. The existence OF this resident population,
ana OF the ablished subdivisions, which, in
few instances, are In harmony with the plan OF
the city or with each other, constitute the most
formidable obstacle to the projected extension,
and VIII greatly enhance the ultimate cost OF the
WORK. The Commissioners send with their re-
port map exhibiting the proposed extension
ana delneat1on OF streets and avenues.
THE ELEVATIONS.
Upon examination Of the map, the report says 1t
Will be seen at once that the 15O feet contour en-
closes nearly the entire region, and that the
greater portion is approximately level between the
$50 feet and 200 feet contours, the maximum ee-
walton OF 23O feet being reached in the northeast
the streets can therefore, approximately, though
not absolutely, follow the rigid system OF the city
therefrom being i'm some cases
formed by the topography, and in other cases by
judiciOus effort to reduce cost by paying due con-
SideratiOn to well-established existing lines of
travel and valuable improvements.
on the one hand q substantial adherence to rect
angular1ty and parallellism is secured and on the
and constructions, conserving. it is believed. to
The greatest extent practicable with public and
private interests.
THE PRINCIPAL FEATURES
of this plan are three: First. The northward ex-
tension OF 18th street, hereafter to be called Me-
ridian avenue, with its full width Of 16O feet This
is the only north and south avenue the city DOS
sesses and iI can be continued on the same line
and parallel with the general course OF Rock
trfct. The present grade OF the avenue just north
OF Boundary street, viz: 10 feet in the hundred,
VT VIII oe reduced TO ~ feet, and made practicable
10 trave and its existing detection beyond Meade
circle will be abandoned Second. The extension
OF New jersey avenue, 120 feet wide from Bound
A DETECTION is made at Boundary street
because direct extension would destroy the
treedman's hospital; cut through the
presently merge into 7th street road at an acute
angle without possibility OF further Iudicious pro-
longation. on the other hand the detection
avoids the constructions above noted, follows a
coesour reaches 14th street at its present defec-
at I Pnsy Braneh sd s Meridian avenue
to be called California avenue is projected from
Massachusetts, avenue extended northeastwardly
to the Soldiers Home. This avenue intersects all
the north and south Streets and will form a superb
jersey avenue nearly at right angles, where
Columbia avenue and 12th street also inter-
sect, and forms a prominent circle to
designated, for the reason that, while eastern,
western and southern states are well represented
the Pacific coast has not as yet been recognized
The detection OF California avenue at its interSec-
tion with Columbia road is forced by the close
proximity Of the 100 and 15O-foot contours and
tween 2lst street and Massachusetts avenue ex-
tended, and by the necessity for conforming with
the topography in the vicinity OF Rock creek.
OTHER AVENUES.
Other points are as follows: Massachusetts, ave-
nue. has already been extended to Rock creek, with
a circle called Logan. The Columbia road is
widened and converted INTO an avenue 100 feet in
width, tntersecttng Meridian avenue at Meade
circle, and reaching the east and west streets
through Grant circle. 1t is not practicable to pro-
long Connecticut avenue. 1t would cut deep into
the hill confronting ii, traverse comparatively
Vaiey nsss cosy bridge rhS HVen %e1 creek cen
structed across the valley at its widest part This
may be done at some time in the future to reach
but cannot now be considered. New Hampshire
avenue could only be extended up steep grade or
at the cost & Of heavy diagonal cutting rs inter
cock circle. Vermont avenue is readily prolonged
TO 7th street. but has no future beyond that point
and sth streets creates Mcclellan circle. Rhode
Island avenue naturally continues to Lincoln ave-
nue., and possibly still further. 1t intersects New
Jersey avenue at Humphreys circle and North
Capitol street at Sedgwick circle.
THE NORTH AND SOUTH STREETS.
In running out the north and south streets their
city width is generally retained, but 1t was need
full to observe two points. 1St. The topography
limited the number of the streets which it was
10th street, controlled their direction. 2d. The
present location OF 7th and 14th street roads can
large extent, the neighboring subdivisions and to
recttfy their alignment would be very costly and
the subdivision north OF the reservoir,
is converted to correspond. 10th street would
between 9th and 10th, but to extend 10th street
would destroy the GARFIELD hospital, and further
more Sherman street occupies . line Of natural
drainage, which must hereafter be the route OF q
public sewer. 10th and 18th streets are naturally
prolonged. 14th street is w1dened and partially
SUralRlCcQcU, UuG pOSiJlOu Is not changed. for
the same reason as in the case OF 7th street. 18th
street Is prolonged up natural rav1ne, and con-
tinued to Mt. Peasant. 18th street can only be
extended by heavy cut similar to Meridian ave-
nue., which Is unnecessary. Beyond Columbia
road it continues again to and through Mt. Pleas
ant, and below Columbia road its place is approxi-
mately taken by what is now called Central ave
nue. "a name without @gntncance), which mergeS
into Prospect street. Champlatn street is retained
to California avenue, and abandoned beyond 18th
street has already been extended nearly to Co
lumbia road and is prolonged to the east and
west streets through Meade circle 18th street
remains as now, and merges into wood
are extended, diverting north to the soldiers
Home; the former passes the southeast angle OF
the reservoir, and the latter when cleared Of the
obstruction Of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at
D street, win constitute superb approach to the
Soldiers Home direct from the Capitol
THE EAST AND WEST STREETS.
The east and west streets with widths OF so and so
feet gave even more trouble than the north and
south projections. The owners OF the property
had laid these down in their several subdivisions
pretty much to SUIT themselves or some fancied
advantage, and without reference to any general
plan, since none had been established. it VIII be
ments and prolongations, so Tar as is practicable
by widening and strengthening. 1t may be Oh.
served that absence OF exact paralleliSm is much
more obvious upon the map than upon the ground
Where streets were not built up no hesitation was
felt in changing or o0nterattn9 them. When con-
taken to saci1nce no more OF their value than was
needful or reasonable. When totally fnc0mpati-
ble they are made to conform. The streets OF Mt
Pleasant In The northwest corner are In fair ac-
cOrdance with the topography OF the Site
considerably built upon, straight and I'M